Former controversial state Representative Lisa Brown now county clerk

In June 2012, then Rep. Lisa Brown made headlines across the nation when she was banned from speaking on the Michigan House floor after she said during a debate about anti-abortion legislation: "I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.' "

FILE - This June 18, 2012 file photo shows, from left, Rep. Barb Byrum, D-Onondaga, Rep. Lisa Brown, D-West Bloomfield, playwright Eve Ensler and Sen. Rebecca Warren, D-Ann Arbor, posing for a group picture during an event including a performance of "The Vagina Monologues" by Brown and 10 other lawmakers on the Michigan Statehouse steps, in Lansing, Mich. Brown, who says she was barred from speaking in the Michigan House because Republicans objected to her saying "vagina" during debate over anti-abortion legislation, performed "The Vagina Monologues" with a hand from the author Eve Ensler. (AP Photo/Detroit News, Dale G. Young)

Oakland County has a new clerk beginning next year -- you may have heard of Lisa Brown before she unseated incumbent Clerk Bill Bullard by 40,799 votes earlier this month.

In 2006, Brown, a democrat with no prior political experience, came very close to unseating republican David Law in the race to be state representative for the 39th District.

The 39th District, which is made up of Commerce Township and much of West Bloomfield, has historically been republican and Brown was considered the underdog, but she lost to Law by only 181 votes.

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Law decided not to run for a third term, and Brown won the 2008 election -- winning by 57 percent of the vote.

Since winning the 2008 race, she has served as representative for the 39th State District, and will finish out her term, which ends on Dec. 31.

"I think that I'm going to miss it, but I'm thrilled that I get to continue working with the people I've represented," Brown said.

In June 2012, she made headlines across the nation when she was banned from speaking on the Michigan House floor after she said during a debate about anti-abortion legislation: "I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.' "

The controversial bill proposed restricting abortions after 20 weeks, but Brown said that violates her Jewish faith -- which allows abortions when the mother's life is at risk.

While some representatives said the statement was offensive, Brown defended her right to say the word "vagina" because she said it's the "anatomically, medically correct term."

The anti-abortion law passed on a 70-39 vote.

She has also served on the Education, Energy and Technology, Ethics and Elections and Judiciary Committees.

Though she is a little sad to say goodbye to the Michigan House of Representatives, she said her work there is not done and there is still legislation she is working on.

She is also thrilled she can continue to serve the people now that she has been elected as clerk. She believes she has made great relationships with the people and the colleagues while she was a representative, which will help her in her new job.

"Obviously I'm honored and humbled by the support I received and excited for the opportunity to serve the people of Oakland County," Brown said.

Bullard was disappointed he lost the race, but he knows the office will continue to work hard.

"We have a great office, it was great before I got there and it will be great after I leave. We will work with the new clerk in the transition and it will be a smooth one," Bullard said.

He is proud of his accomplishments, such as the e-services center and other improvements in the past two years.

"I expect the other improvements made will go on just like past improvements," Bullard said. "We have a good system in Oakland County with the county clerk working with the local clerks and I expect that will continue."

Bullard said he and Brown will work together to ensure a smooth transition. She said she is busy working as both a state representative and trying to make the transition.

A top priority for Brown is getting a mobile office to visit every community, with a schedule that is well-advertised.

"That's at the top (of my priorities) ... this is really a service oriented office," Brown said. "... There's issues we're going to have to deal with, there are elections in February," Brown said.